[Mb-civic] A 'kinder, gentler' Benedict in first year as pope - James M. Weiss - Boston Globe Op-Ed

[William Swiggard]

  A 'kinder, gentler' Benedict in first year as pope

By James M. Weiss  |  April 16, 2006  |  The Boston Globe

THE FIRST anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's election prompts some 
questions. This winter, a Roman journalist encountered a cardinal who 
hadn't visited Rome since Benedict's election. The cardinal burst out, 
''What is Benedict doing? When will he make changes?"

Indeed, the new pope has kept a fairly low profile. Moreover, his 
first-year agenda was already set by John Paul II: World Youth Day, the 
international meeting of bishops last autumn, a decree barring 
homosexuals from the priesthood, even the encyclical about love were all 
already in the works. Benedict finished out John Paul's commitments, 
even though he often influenced them as well.

Yet if Benedict's substance was predictable, his style brings a major 
surprise: He has not lowered the boom. He has not cracked down on 
persons or trends in the church.

On numerous occasions when he could have denounced modern culture, he 
conspicuously did not. In fact, robust Catholic conservatives voice 
dismay over the ''kinder, gentler" Benedict.

Benedict's way of being pope points to the office, not the personality. 
John Paul acted as pastor of the planet. Benedict acts as self-effacing 
steward of a tradition. He doesn't see history culminating in his own 
millennial significance, as John Paul did. He desires more consultation 
with cardinals and bishops. For many, his modest personality makes the 
Gospel easier to absorb than the dramatic, autocratic John Paul did.

Benedict's restraint showed up in four compelling moments. First, when 
his encyclical on love was announced, one critic asked, ''What will he 
condemn this time?" Yet Benedict passed over anticipated hot-button 
issues and warmly praised sexual love as part of God's plan. Second, his 
major address at World Youth Day encouraged young people to attend 
church and receive Communion, but never denounced youth culture as 
expected. Third, the decree against homosexual seminarians appeared with 
a tempered authority, leaving local bishops some discretionary power in 
carrying it out. Fourth, when Benedict appointed an American to fill his 
previous post as watchdog of doctrine, he chose a notably milder, more 
flexible, less confrontational figure than he himself had been.

In review, three themes and three events stake out Benedict's probable 
legacy. The first theme is a key to guide church affairs. In a major 
speech, he declared that reforms of Vatican II flow in continuity with 
church tradition; they do not break from it. This foretells continued 
obstacles to innovation, experimentation, and even women's roles in the 
church. Second, Benedict praises freedom -- not as individualism, but as 
humans' capacity to accept clear truth. Third, he makes a distinction, 
saying the church should not engage in political affairs but only seek 
to influence them. This is hard to explain and harder to live by. To 
some puzzling, to others hypocritical, it seems to allow church 
officials to have it both ways.

Benedict's key events began with streamlining church bureaucracy by 
shrinking the size of the Vatican administration and appointing 
specialists, not career churchmen, to offices. Second, he took a 
high-stakes risk by accepting an invitation to visit Turkey. This could 
heal Catholic relations with Greek Orthodox leaders, but aggravate 
foreign relations, since Benedict opposed Turkey's admission to the 
European Union because it is an Islamic country. On the other hand, 
Turkey allows religious freedom, a policy the Vatican supports against 
many Islamic states that do not. Third, while Benedict is deeply 
committed to Jewish-Christian dialogue as a religious matter, 
Vatican-Israeli relations remain a difficult diplomatic matter. Benedict 
has deferred invitations and requests by the president of Israel and 
leading rabbis while longstanding Vatican requests are negotiated.

Often, Benedict rises above the fray, leaving tough action to others. 
For issues closer to home such as parish closings, clergy sexual abuse, 
and the bishops' delinquency in handling it, the Vatican has let local 
authorities sweat out their own decisions. He may continue to give 
little guidance on those matters. If frustrating, a less centralized 
church may be one that many Catholics long for.

While Benedict will surely not change his own or John Paul's positions, 
his calling as pope shows greater awareness of his earliest calling as a 
teacher. Teaching relies on patience and slow progress, rather than 
instant clarity and compliance. The surprises of his first year may 
signal a pope of some paradox after all.

James M. Weiss, associate professor of church history at Boston College, 
is a specialist on the modern papacy and College of Cardinals.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/04/16/a_kinder_gentler_benedict_in_first_year_as_pope/
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